NEW DELHI: Health minister Satyendar Jain on Wednesday said the city government had extended its cashless surgery scheme of Delhi Arogya Kosh for the treatment of patients suffering from mucormycosis. The government on March 27 had declared mucormycosis an epidemic.
“Residents of Delhi undergoing treatment of Mucormycosis in Delhi Govt hospital can be referred to empanelled private hospitals under this cashless scheme for the treatment,” Jain tweeted. He also shared a copy of an official memorandum issued in connection with the extension of the scheme for such patients.
In the last two years, Delhi has recorded over 1,600 cases of mucormycosis. Of these, 952 were active as of July 6, according to official data.
“There is limited capacity for performing surgeries pertaining to mucormycosis in Delhi government hospitals,” reads the official memorandum shared by Jain along with his tweet.
In view of it, the health minister-cum-chairman, Delhi Arogya Kosh, has approved that eligible patients undergoing treatment for mucormycosis in Delhi government hospitals “may be referred to empanelled private hospitals under the cashless surgery scheme, if the allotted date of surgery in Delhi government hospital concerned is beyond seven days,” it said.
Under Delhi Arogya Kosh, the government provides financial assistance to the extent of Rs 5 lakh to the needy eligible patients for treatment of any illness in government hospitals. Only residents of Delhi, identified based on a voter identification card, will be considered eligible to avail the scheme. tnn
